Kuehne + Nagel has entered into an agreement to acquire Carl Drude GmbH & Co. KG, located in Hauneck / Bad Hersfeld, the geographical centre of Germany. This transaction is in line with Kuehne + Nagel’s strategy to further expand its European overland network and to establish an European hub & spoke system. As of mid 2012, Kuehne + Nagel will operate daily lines to 50 European economic centres via this central platform.

Drude Logistik, founded in Bad Hersfeld in 1894, is specialised in hub operations for international groupage networks. Its logistics centre in Hauneck / Bad Hersfeld accomodates a 7,200 square metre transshipment terminal with 105 loading bays. 150 employees provide hub services and ensure high quality and security levels. In addition, the company has around 11,500 square metre warehouse space under its management.

“Through the acquisition of Drude Logistik we get access to a highly capable hub operation for our international groupage activities. Drude Logistik fully meets our requirements regarding expertise, geographical position and infrastructure”, said Dirk Reich, Executive Vice President, Kuehne + Nagel International AG, responsible for Road & Rail Logistics. “Acting as our new Eurohub, it enables us to increase the number of departures, reduce lead times and achieve a better capacity utilisation due to a consistent consolidation and overnight transshipment operations. As a result, all Kuehne + Nagel locations linked to the Eurohub will benefit from improved service levels. The new routing via the Eurohub will be finalised until mid 2012”.

Currently, Kuehne + Nagel’s European groupage network has established line services between 38 countries across the continent, routed via its central hub in Haiger, Germany. Due to capacity constraints, this location does not allow any further expansion of international groupage activities.

In Germany, Kuehne + Nagel will continue to partner with the German groupage network IDS, covering 11 of its franchise areas. The national IDS hub is located in Neuenstein-Aua.

The agreement is subject to approval of the antitrust authorities. Both parties agreed to not disclose the pruchase price.